Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-27
Letter from Warren County.


Letter from Warren County.
Correspondence of tho Alexandria GAzErTEl
FRONT ROYAL, Aug PA visit 10 this
beautiful little town, so gracefully nesting
lin the grand old mountains of our State,
has awakened recollections OF the long ago.
Yes, it was on the day of bloody strife when
the hostile legions of the enemy again COM
menced their march into Virginia, after the
Sharpsburg fight, via Loudoun, that our
peerless Gen. r. E. Lee, after resting his
columns at Winchester, retraced his
weary steps with a view to placing his
army between the enemy and our capital.
This dear little town was in the line OF
march, and Chester Gap and that of Manas-
sas was selected as the route over these
lofty mountains. Corse's Brigade led the
advance, with the old 18th Virginia regi-
ment in front; and in that command was
the old veteran company, the Warren Rifle.
men, most Of its members being resident OF
| this town and immediate section. These
gallant boys had been thinking of the JOY
Gus meetings Of mothers, sisters, their gray
| headed and infirm fathers, and friends, little
\
was reserved the honor of truly throwing
themselves into the breech-and, indeed, to
| fght-and bleed for their own homes and
lresides. A courier hastily announced
| that the enemy was approaching the Gap
with a view to impeding our march. When
that was known, the 18th Virginia regiment
| and few other troops were marched hur-
riedly up the mountain; but with all their
haste, the enemy had pushed his skirmishers
| over the top, and the reserves were being
| rapidly moved up. Then came the tug of
war"
Our chvalrous Col. Herbert, with his
| clarion voice, gave the command to deploy
and forward double quick TO the charge. On
| ly hundred yards separated the combat
ants on swept our invincible lines, and in
| less than an hour the victory was won, the
enemy routed and their conceived plans
| frustrated and but for that impetuous
stroke these gaps would have been barred
against us and we cut off from Richmond,
| except we crossed at some of the lower gaps
at Luray, which, in all probability, would
| have been occupied by them before we
! could have gotten there, as the distance is
| shorter on the eastern side of the mountain,
| while the federal army, released at Sbarps'
| burg, could have been pushed rapidly to
Richmond by transports down the Potomac.
| The victory was won, but, as uaual, some of
our best blood was shed, and the sufferers
| were laid side by side in the old hotel
building, which was partially used for tenn
/ porary hospital purposes. That heroic COM
pany, the Warren Rifles, those gallant boys,
| had the honor of striking VIGOROUSLY for
their native hills. for most of the men were
in sight of their own homes, and Spartans
never struck more vigorous blows for their
own dear land than did the brave boys Of
Co. B. My heart is full of coed wishes for the
men who survive, and we all sorrow for their
| gallant dead who fell in the front OF battle.
In driving out in the vicinity saw the vine
clad home of our old, brave and distin-
guished Major Simpson who died in Rich.
mond from wounds received at that fiery
little battle OF Drewry's Bluff, living only q
| few DAYS after. As soldier and q gentle
man he had but few equals. How quietly
that old homestead now looks on the noun
tain side almost obscured by the trees and
shrubbery. Oncei it was made radiant by the
genial companionship of that noble son and
brother who yielded up his precious life
upon the altar of his country could name
many of old Warren's slain, who sleep side
by side with our own brave Alexandria boys.
Ah! they all fought good fghtan although
we did not win our cause, we carried fame
for heroic bearing, fortitude and hardships,
that the unborn generations will venerate,
through all coming time. The names of
Robert e. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Geo. e.
Pickett, and their half.fed, hslf.clothed, and
shoeless volunteers, will have their praises,
virtues and heroism sounded down through
all the ages.
This town has improved considera-
| hti.t1
ings have been erected, and there are
number of large stores with fine stocks,
and business seems fairly good The noun
tain views are perfectly lovely and the air
pure and bracing. A more delightful place
could not be found, and the wonder is that
such place is not crowded with summer
boarders, situated as it is on two of our
great railroad lines, with telegraphic and
telephone communication. They have good
liveries, fine bass fishing in the grand old
Shenandoah, splendid mountain mutton,
choice beef, and fresh vegetables gathered
with the mountain dew on them. Then the
dwellers here are among the most hosptable
in the State and all sober local option here),
aud they have forlorn though attractive
Jail without a prisoner, which has been the
case since May 1st, when King Alcohol was
suspended by local option.
/ shook hands with our old quartermaster
Maj. Bob Turner. He did not look as
young and handsome as when he wore his
regimentals % years ago, but if you were on
the lookout for good, able, honest Judge
you could never find purer iurist than
Circuit Judge Robert Turner, late quarter.
master of Corse's Brigade. {. w. G.
A mad dog attacked Mrs. Henry Biekle neal